Most people think of climate change as an enormous issue that can only be addressed on a global level. How can small grants of $500 or even $5,000 make a difference to such a monumental challenge?
We believe local action through small grants can make a big difference. Since 2000, Greengrants has given well over $1 million dollars to hundreds of organizations working on climate change in every corner of the globe.
As the stories of these groups indicate, although the issue of climate change is global, the methods of attacking it are as unique as the peoples and local environments that it will so drastically affect. We believe, as is the case with nearly every other environmental issue, that long-lasting solutions will have to include those who will be most affected. We hope you are inspired, as we are, by their efforts.
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Gas Flare Impacted Communities Group, Nigeria
Around the world the demands of industry often take precedent over environmental concerns. This is especially apparent in developing countries that are promoting economic development at all costs. With the help of Greengrants, many groups are successfully advocating the oil and gas industries as well as governments, courts, and International Financial Institutions (IFI) in their areas to make simple changes that can have a large impact on their carbon emissions.
Gas flaring occurs when the natural gas associated with oil deposits is burned off before the crude oil is refined. Toxins released into the atmosphere by gas flaring not only contribute to climate change, but also harm the health of the local communities. The Canadian Public Health Association reports that over 250 identified toxins can be released from flaring, including carcinogens such as benzopyrene and benzene, and traces of heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic.
Gas flaring is a major source of pollution and the biggest single source of CO2 in Africa. More gas is flared in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. According to the World Bank, by 2002 flaring in that country had contributed more greenhouse gases to the Earth’s atmosphere than all other sources in sub-Saharan Africa combined. The single biggest gas flarer is the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC).
Greengrants has supported several groups working to stop gas flaring. The Gas Flare Impacted Communities Group in Nigeria, which pursued legal action against Shell Oil to hold them accountable for damage in several communities is made up of representatives of eight different communities that have suffered from the harsh effects of gas flaring. Greengrants also supported the efforts of EDRIC (Edo Information and Research Center) which produced research on the effects of gas flaring, which was used in a public education campaign. Oilwatch Africa also received a grant in their efforts to connect African groups working on this and other oil-related issues.The efforts of these groups paid off. In November 2005, the High Court of Nigeria ordered all oil companies in the Niger Delta to stop gas flaring.